The unique hobby of collecting ancient stone artifacts.

Driven by a passion for exploring and discovering the cultural value of ancient stone artifacts, Mr. Nguyen Canh Duong, from Hamlet 4, Trung Thanh Commune (Vu Ban District), has dedicated much time and effort, traveling throughout Vietnam to collect, preserve, and arrange hundreds of purely Vietnamese ancient stone items. For him, each stone slab not only bears the mark of ancient artisans' hands but also represents a part of cultural memory that needs to be preserved and disseminated in contemporary life.

Mr. Nguyen Canh Duong, from Hamlet 4, Trung Thanh Commune (Vu Ban District), with his collection of ancient stone artifacts.

Duong's childhood was filled with searching for beautiful and unique stones, which he carefully preserved, becoming a growing source of inspiration over the years. In the 2010s, when the ornamental plant hobby boomed, he invested all his capital in greenery. However, after a short period of boom, the market declined, causing him to lose hundreds of millions of dong. This early setback led him back to his childhood passion – stones. But this time, it wasn't just stones picked up by the roadside, but ancient stone artifacts, the embodiment of history, art, and folk culture. He began dedicating more time to learning about different types of stones, traditional crafting techniques, carved symbols, and the cultural and spiritual meanings hidden within each piece.

A memorable milestone in Mr. Duong's collecting journey was in 2018 when he was introduced to an ancient stone basin in the courtyard of a family in Nam Dinh city. The basin, made from a single block of green stone, weighed 400kg, was 0.45m high, 1.02m long, and 0.6m wide. Its surfaces were exquisitely carved: the front depicted a landscape of Hue ; the two sides featured lotus and duck motifs, and lotus and turtle motifs; the back depicted a phoenix treading on clouds. Although time had covered the surface with moss, the details remained clear and sharp. Recognizing the cultural value of the artifact, Mr. Duong persistently visited and persuaded the owner many times, finally acquiring the precious basin. This was the first ancient stone item in his collection – marking the beginning of a persistent and passionate journey that lasted for many years. From this initial success, Mr. Duong began traveling throughout the provinces, from Central to Southern Vietnam, to collect unique, ancient, and rare stone artifacts. He said, "Most of these valuable items belong to well-off families who are knowledgeable about artifacts. They won't easily sell them to anyone if the buyer is only looking for profit. You have to have real passion, knowledge, and goodwill to convince them." Thanks to this connection, he now owns more than 100 antique stone artifacts, most of which have high cultural and historical value and are considered very rare. What's special is that they are all purely Vietnamese stone artifacts.

According to Mr. Duong, ancient Vietnamese stone artifacts are mainly made from three types: crushed stone from Thanh Hoa, which is smooth, easy to work with, and has beautiful patina; Ninh Van green stone (Ninh Binh), which is very hard, difficult to carve, but retains its patina for a long time; and sandstone from Hue, which is soft, easy to shape, and resistant to erosion. The items showcase pure Vietnamese characteristics through carved details such as the four mythical creatures, the four seasons, rosettes, lotus flowers, and scenes of farmers' daily life... The collection includes many representative artifacts. First, there is a pair of stone elephants from the Nguyen dynasty, 0.74m high, 0.74m long, and 0.31m wide. These elephants were once placed in the Dien Tho Palace in Hue. After many historical events, the pair of elephants were lost and were later recovered by a collector. As soon as he received the information, Mr. Duong contacted the collector, assessed their age, and determined their historical value. The pair of elephants served both as decoration and as feng shui items in the imperial court. Another item is a Hue-style stone basin collected from Nghe An . The front of the basin is carved with a Tang Dynasty poem, implying the close friendship between Bo Ya and Zi Qi. One side of the basin is carved with a peach, the other with a Buddha's hand fruit, and the edge with a bat's wing – symbols signifying longevity and good fortune. The basin is made from a single block of green stone, intricately carved, and is currently valued at billions of dong. The stone table and chairs he collected in Ninh Binh in 2023 are very unique. The stone table is made from filled stone, with a flat, uncarved surface, but the underside features elaborate stepped designs. The six stone chairs have carved patterns on their bodies, and the seat surfaces are carved with bronze drums and lotus flowers – two traditional symbols of Vietnamese culture. Among the large artifacts, the Nguyen Dynasty stone bed is one of the most impressive. The bed is 2.26m long and 1.86m wide, made from a single block of Ninh Van stone. Mr. Duong added: When he collected the bed in Nam Dinh, the owner decided not to sell it, so he had it commissioned right from the time the foundation of the house was laid. Later, he had to struggle to transport it out because the doorway was too narrow. The relocation process required the use of lifting equipment, measuring every centimeter, and wrapping each edge of the stone to prevent impact and ensure absolute safety. This is considered one of the largest stone slabs in the country today. In addition, his collection also includes a stone offering tray - a masterpiece showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient artisans. The tray is very thin, with the character "Thọ" (longevity) carved inside and lotus petals carved around the rim. The tray was commonly used in royal ceremonies during the Nguyen dynasty to hold fruits and offerings. Although small, according to collectors, this stone artifact is of high value in terms of its form and spiritual and cultural significance.

All the artifacts are meticulously arranged by Mr. Duong in the space of his more than 100-year-old wooden house. The spacious courtyard is paved with antique bricks, interspersed with stone ponds, stone basins, stone beds, and ancient ornamental plants. In one corner of the courtyard, a pair of ancient stone vases have been transformed into lotus flower pots. This skillful combination makes each tree and each stone in Mr. Duong's courtyard resemble an art installation, both useful and imbued with a nostalgic atmosphere. The rough, rustic stones, after so many years, suddenly become graceful under the hands of the collector, bringing the spirit of the past to life in the present space. Many first-time visitors are surprised and moved. Some have called Mr. Duong's house a "miniature folk stone museum." Here, the elderly relive their childhood memories, and the young learn more about history and culture through each specific item. This connection has made Mr. Duong's hobby not just a personal passion, but also contributes to spreading the spirit of preserving heritage.

Text and photos: Viet Du

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202505/doc-dao-thu-choi-do-da-co-35c54c2/